Native plants for Washington County, Georgia

139 native plants recorded in Washington County, Georgia

The USDA plant database has 168 plants recorded growing wild in Washington County. 139 of them are native to the lower 48, and 4 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 62 wildflowers and herbs, 19 grasses and sedges, 16 shrubs, 6 low woody plants, 28 trees, 8 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 48 of them (35%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Mexican tea (Dysphania ambrosioides) and Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Washington County

Sun all day in Washington County: 48 rated natives

21 trees, 9 shrubs, 7 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial
6. Alternateleaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
7. Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
8. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial

Half shade in Washington County: 23 rated natives

13 trees, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
2. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
3. Poorland flatsedge (Cyperus compressus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · high shade tolerance
5. Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. Bigleaf snowbell (Styrax grandifolius) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · perennial
7. Prairie wedgescale (Sphenopholis obtusata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Washington County: 16 rated natives

8 trees, 4 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Poorland flatsedge (Cyperus compressus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth
5. Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 10 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Turkey oak (Quercus laevis) trees
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
8. Shortbeard plumegrass (Saccharum brevibarbe) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · about 6.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Washington County: 29 rated natives

12 trees, 6 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
2. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial
5. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Lanceleaf greenbrier (Smilax smallii) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth
8. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Washington County: 34 rated natives

15 trees, 8 shrubs, 5 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial
4. Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
5. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial
6. Bigleaf snowbell (Styrax grandifolius) trees
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · perennial
7. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Lanceleaf greenbrier (Smilax smallii) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Never watered in Washington County: 21 rated natives

8 trees, 6 shrubs, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
2. Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 ft mature · perennial
3. Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
4. Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
5. Cat greenbrier (Smilax glauca) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Butterweed (Packera glabella) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth
7. New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance
8. Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Washington County: 18 rated natives

7 trees, 4 shrubs, 4 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Narrowleaf evening primrose (Oenothera fruticosa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. Virginia water horehound (Lycopus virginicus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Lanceleaf greenbrier (Smilax smallii) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. Poorland flatsedge (Cyperus compressus) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · rapid growth · perennial
7. Mountain azalea (Rhododendron canescens) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 14 ft mature · perennial · toxicity: slight
8. Saw greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Natives Washington County has that most of Georgia does not

6 natives here are on file in no more than 8 of Georgia's 159 counties. A few of them:

• Harper's dodder (Cuscuta harperi): only here
• Chattahoochee River wakerobin (Trillium decipiens): 5 counties
• Teal lovegrass (Eragrostis hypnoides): 6 counties
• Carelessweed (Amaranthus palmeri): 6 counties
• American pillwort (Pilularia americana): 7 counties
• Nuttall's rayless goldenrod (Bigelowia nuttallii): 8 counties

Where to start in Washington County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Washington County gives you the most rated choice (48 plants), and Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 16 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 91 unrated natives too.